Revelations- More or Less:

Disclaimer: All I own is Eriko, her family, my plot, and a Tom in a room but anything familiar belongs to Tamora Pierce.

A/N: I try and update as fast as I can so here's another chapter. I know that it's short but enjoy please:) Oh and the bold part is where Eri starts talking in Yamani.


The next ball was drawing closer but I was too far from the answers that I needed. No longer did I draw or sketch during my free time when pacing seems to take over the second I let my mind wander. I paced every where that didn't need my attention; the various libraries, Daine and Numair's room, the practice yard, my rooms, any place that my feet touched became my pacing grounds. I don't know why but I'm even sure that there's a hole in these places as well, especially my rooms. I paced at dawn, morning, dusk, and night whether it was for a few seconds or a few hours. Gods, nothing seemed right anymore. I even found myself avoiding Merric and the other knights for unknown reasons. Was I mental? Maybe all this planning for the wedding and the ball were finally taking its toll. Or maybe I had finally cracked under Ironheart's pressures? I let out a bitter laugh at the point but stopped when it came out as more of a cackle.

Oh Goddess, I am mental! I thought to myself.

The night was icy and the pacing was good for my circulation but maybe I should just go to bed. I think my feet are turning bluish or maybe it's just the moonlight. Bending down to make sure, it was confirmed that my feet had acquired a bluish tint. Not only that but I think there's a bruise on my big toe...wait it's just lint. Standing up straight, I was about to start my pacing again when I noticed that my feet and legs burned with numbness. Gingerly walking over to the bed, I took off my robe and set it on a chair before slipping in beneath the covers. Feeling my eyes become heavy, I felt my vision begin to cloud and I let out a sigh of relief.

vvvvvvvv

I got up the next morning before the sun could peak out from under the clouds. Washing my face and getting dressed, I almost resumed my pacing again when I remembered that I had practice today. Taking out the glaive and the shukusen from the trunk before going down to the practice courts. When I didn't see anyone, I was tempted to pace but decided that I should do my breathing exercises first. It seemed like hours had gone by before Shinko, Yuki, and Queen Thayet came to the practice courts. Getting up, I wondered where Kel was before I remembered that she was on duty. Pairing off, we started a few exercises before practicing against one another. The Queen was doing very well and had almost knocked Yuki off her feet a few times. Shinko won this round when I loosened my grip for a second and knocked me onto my back. Helping me up, we watched as the Queen and Yuki clash a few more times before the Queen gave up. Hearing the bell before morning meal ring, we ended practice with a bow and went our separate ways, Shinko with the Queen and Yuki to the Visitors' Wing. I would've followed but I needed to go see Dust.

Walking around to the stables, I opened Dust's stall and sat down on the upturn bucket. He must've felt my presence because Dust was up and whining at the sight of me. I haven't gone to see him in a while and rather than go to breakfast today, I was going to sit here and tell him my problems. After giving him a sugar cube, he nudged me softly before nipping me in what I would assume was meant to be a scold. Sighing, I patted him and gave him another cube before looking out to see if anyone was around. Moving the bucket to the back of the stall, I sat down again before I could start pacing.

"How are you?" I started out.

Dust only snorted before lowering his head into my hand.

"I think I've finally crack."

Dust whined a bit at the statement as if to say 'I knew that, so what else is new?'

"What I say here doesn't go to Daine or anyone else got it?"

He gave me a hard stare that said 'I promise.'

"Good. I think I finally lost it. I've been pacing for days and I think weird things when I'm distracted. I haven't seen anyone else for more than a minute except for Shinko and Yuki but I suppose it's better that way because then there's no questioning. I'm getting light headed these days and I get a squirmy feeling every time I see Merric but I run before I even notice what's going on. Eric and Kai have been trying to talk to me but we don't seem to be running into each other anymore. I have a feeling that I forgot something but I don't know what it is. I have a feeling that it's important but I can't seem to think about it for more than a minute before I start pacing again. I haven't done a sketch in a week. A week I tell you! It should be an abomination and I should be locked u- Ow!"

Rubbing my left shoulder where Dust has nipped me, I glared at him but he just took it all in with another look that said 'Look at yourself.' Getting confused, I looked around and saw a bucket in a corner. It was then that I noticed I had started pacing again. Running my hand through my hair, I sighed with defeat before pacing again.

"See this is what I'm talking about. I do nothing but pace these days. I wake up and I pace, I stand up and I pace, I practice and I pace. Pace, pace, pace, pace. I mean what the heck am I doing? And whenever I pace, there's this nagging feeling in the back of my head and I automatically think of him. Then I feel my head and hand shake and I just wished he would appear so I could throttle him because it's his entire fault that I'm this way! Couldn't he just leave me alone for one second? I swear the next time I see him, maybe I should send him up a tower or something. But no that's too mean and then I'd have no one to go with to the ball and Ironheart will make me go with that pompous asshole that calls himself a gentleman and a knight. I mean what kind of lunatic looks for a wife through someone else? It should be outla- never mind. I forgot that it was called an arranged marriage but still...Did you know Sir Pompous had the nerve to call on me? I almost let him have it if it wasn't for the King and Queen walking about a meter or two away. Gah! Where's that coward when I need to throttle him!

"Okay so I really don't want to throttle him but he's been shoving his way into my head that I want to throttle him. I mean I can't think like this all day, everyday. It's ludicrous I tell you! Absolutely, positively ludicrous! But he was sincere when he apologized and he's been nice about not trying to insult me so maybe it was right to give him that second chance...but still can't he just leave me alone for one second.

"Oh Mithros I'm think I've really crack. What happened?"

"Maybe it's because you don't eat."

Turning a little too fast, I tripped over the bucket and fell backwards against the bales of hay with my legs sticking out. Lucky for me, I had on practice breeches and a tunic but unfortunately, my head knocked against the back wall of the stable.

"Ow..." I muttered.

Hearing the stall door open, my vision was swimming so I couldn't really get a good look at who it was until the person helped me up. Shaking the dizziness from my head, I closed my eyes and focused on the person. I really could've throttle him, if he didn't look so freaking concerned and sweet.

"Are you alright? I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to scare you bu-"

"How long were you standing there?" I asked, cutting off Merric's explanation.

He stared at me for a bit before registering my question.

"Oh that. Well I know you want to throttle someone, that there's a Sir Pompous around here, and after that it was all gibberish to me until you asked what was wrong with yourself," Merric recounted as he ticked off the information on his hand.

"Oh," was all I said before Dust pushed Merric out of his stall and gave him a hard stare that said 'You don't belong here.'

"Sorry," Merric mumbled before closing the stall to keep Dust in and him outside.

I didn't really want to face Merric at this moment in time but his look was so sincere it almost broke my heart. Key word being almost because I could feel the heat of embarrassment override that feeling of almost. Turning my back to him, I attempted to fix the bales of hay while trying to control my flushed face.

"So...what are you doing out here?" I asked as calmly as I could.

"Oh, I notice that you weren't at morning meal today so I thought I'd bring you something. It's not much but it was just cooling when I got it in the Mess Hall," Merric told me.

Making sure I wasn't red anymore, I turned around and saw Merric holding out a hot bun and an apple wrapped in his handkerchief. Mumbling a 'thanks', I took it from him and bit into it when my stomach grumbled. Merric only smiled as I finished my breakfast.

"Thanks."

"You welcome."

I just stood there not knowing what else to say. Going up to Dust, I patted him and said a 'good bye' before mumbling an excuse on lady duties before leaving the stall and Merric behind.


"Now dear remember we needn't be rash-"

"Rash? Who says I am going to be rash? I'm simply going to ask what is going on."

"And please remember, don't hound her with any questions until after she explains."

"I'm not stupid."

Sighing at her husband's pout, Ishiko looked out the carriage to watch the passing scenery before hearing Edmond mumble again. She knew he was upset but really now, this behavior isn't normal for him. Then again, hearing your only daughter put on a 'show' as Lucille had called it wasn't normal for them at all. She was really worried and hoped to the Yamani gods that it wasn't true, that what Lucille said was only to spite them. She knew that the old hag would never get along with her simply because she was married to Edmond. But there was a nagging feeling as well somewhere in the dark crevices of her mind that her little baby wasn't so little anymore. That her daughter was now a young woman who could no longer be coddled and protected. Ishiko knew that one day all of her little chicks would have families of their own. It was evident when Kai had first announced his engagement but she never imagined that her youngest would engage in such things so soon.

"It's alright Ishi. Nothing is going to happen," Edmond reassured her.

But it wasn't all right, it was scary. Edmond could see his wife's fears just as clearly as he can voice them. Seeing her slip her mask on, he took her shaking hands into his own and held them, knowing that it would calm her anxiety. He could remember well the last time he had set up his own daughter with someone else. Eri was only sixteen at the time but he had felt that it was no time like the future to find her a decent husband, someone who would take care of her when Ishiko and he was gone. It wasn't until Ishiko found out about the set up that he really started to worry. She had screamed and sobbed her fears to him that day and it wasn't likely that he'll forget it if he could remember the day so well. It was one of the few times he had seen her lose control and her composure towards him. It was then and there that he decided to never meddle with any marriage business ever again, although a lot of convincing on his daughter's part was also a factor. He would wince every time he remembered and it didn't help matters when Aunt Lucille wants a marriage to be arranged.

vvvvvvvv

How dare that girl? That sheer cheek and attitude of that girl was appalling and what's more, she embarrassed her in front of Sir Harrison. If she had raised the girl instead of that mother of hers, this disaster would've never happened. Who in their right minds would raise their own daughters among those monsters? And to teach a girl to fight? It was bad enough when Lucille heard about that tramp going for her shield but for her grandniece to befriend her was even worse. How was she suppose to learn how to do needlework and child care if all they did was learn how to fight?

Fortunately for Lucille, Harrison wasn't a quitter and had called it a 'nice challenge'. Thinking back to the meeting, she sniffed with disdain at the brat's cheek and behavior. Luckily she wasn't about to give up and admit defeat if it would annoy the girl's mother. Where had she gone wrong? She raised Edmond like he was her own son and somewhere along the way, he turned his back on her. She was like a mother to that boy! She may have failed where Edmond was concern but she wasn't about to fail again with Eriko.

vvvvvvvv

Where is that girl? Eric thought before glancing down another hallway.

Groaning with frustration, he walked down the hall and looked into each empty room. Lately, Eri has been acting rather strangely and it wasn't because their parents were coming because if it were she would be jumping for joy.

It had came as a surprise when he got Mako's message a few days ago, announcing that their parents were coming for a visit but as far as he knew they had done nothing wrong. Matt and Mako were at Heathercoves, Lana is due to give birth two months from now, he hadn't done anything wrong as far as he was concerned, and Eri was attending to her duties as a Lady-in-Waiting. So the question is what purpose will this visit be addressing? Something was definitely wrong the minute he got that message. They rarely even come to Corus except for business unless...

Freezing, Eric's eyes widened at the thought. They can't possibly be here about Kel...could they? It's preposterous but then he remembered Ironheart's sneer at the sight of Kel and Eric started to panic.

She must've told them something, Eric thought.

Pacing in the sitting room he had just looked through, Eric thought of all the possible lies the old hag could've told them. Telling them that Kel was a 'tramp' wouldn't get them to come and investigate. No, she must've said something really horrible and convinced them that it was true. He kept coming up with horrible situations that made him all the more jittery and scared.

What if they don't approve? What if she told them Kel wasn't good enough? What if...

Too many thoughts and problems were running around in his head and it was giving him a headache. Kel hadn't done anything bad, Ironheart is just being an old ninny conservative who's got her cane up her ass. Oh Mithros. Did he just call Ironheart a ninny? He could've called her anything but that's not the problem right now. Why couldn't she keep to herself and leave them alone?

Hearing the bell ring, Eric stopped his pacing and groaned. In a couple days, his parents would be here and he can't deal with whatever that monster has told them. Leaving the room the only thing that lifted his mood is that he was finally going to see Kel, seeing as how he had just gotten back from patrol. Maybe he should warn her of the troubles they may have...no, not maybe but definitely.